An (elementary) question: why do we say "我很好"?

Take a moment and think back to the first exchange that appears in just about every textbook created for second language learners of Chinese. In most cases it probably looks a little something like this:

A: 你好吗？

B: 我很好，你呢？

A: nǐ hǎo ma?

B: wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?

I'm sure there was some part of the opening exchange that also clarified where you were from, and how it was great to meet whomever your were talking to, but for the purpose of this post, the above "dialogue" is the focal point. As good students, we dutifully memorize this simple exchange, with "你好吗" representing "how are you?" and "我很好，你呢" taking on the meaning of: "I'm fine, and you?"

When we start breaking down the characters found in this little exchange, however, something doesn't quite seem to add up. We discover that "很" (hěn) has a variety of meanings, such as: very; quite; awfully etc. A curious student might then ask the question: "If I just want to say 'I'm good,' then why can't I just say '我好'". I remember asking this question myself a few years ago, and at the time I was content with the answer my teacher gave me, basically, that this is how the language works, "我好" is just not something that people say in this context.

As native speakers of one language or another, I'm sure we've all used this explanation before, but in all honesty, simply saying something just is means that we don't know the answer-- because everything in language happens for a reason. So, why the heck do we really say "我很好," rather than "我好"?

The answer lies in "很", a word that most of the time plays a role as an adverb. However, in the sentence "我很好" or "I am fine" the "很" loses its original meaning and becomes a function word or a particle, known in Chinese as a 虚词 (xūcí). Very much like the 老 (lǎo) in 老师 (lǎo shī: teacher) the character has become more of a place word than anything else, because not every teacher is old! The function word no longer carries its original meaning, but it is still a necessary part of the word or sentence.

The reason we can't get rid of the "很" is because "我好" actually creates a sentence with a totally different meaning. Basically, "我好" becomes a comparative sentence, rather than a simple reply. By saying "我好" you are saying that you (as the speaker) are better (either than someone else or better than before), almost as if answering an unspoken question. The same applies to other sentences as well. In Chinese we cannot simply say "他饿" (tā è) to indicate that someone is hungry. We need to add a "很" or a "了" to make the sentence more clear (and grammatically correct). The instances where we would actually say "他饿" are comparative, for example:

A: 你饿还是他饿?

B: 他 (比较）饿

A: nǐ è háishì tā è ? (Are you hunger or is he hungry?)

B: tā (bǐjiào) è (He (is more) hungry)

With that being said, I think beginner textbooks are correct in ignoring the idea of function words, and relying on understanding through translation or context. However, there will come a point when we should all ask ourselves if the answer "that is just how the language works" is good enough. Once it isn't anymore, we have to seek out the real reason why we can't simply say "我好" when someone asks us how we are doing.

iOS App in Chile

I know you hadn't forgotten, but we're working on our iOS app, and we want to whet your anticipation a bit further, so here's another app tester story. This time we hear from Diny in Chile, who has an enviable Skritter-from-hammock setup.

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I’m a French / German translator from The Netherlands, and I live in Chile. China is exactly at the other end of the world as seen from here. I started learning Chinese in Nigeria, where I used to live. A Nigerian teacher who lived in China for some years gave me the first couple of lessons. I was struggling to get the tones right, while none of my classmates seemed to have any problem with the tones: their African languages were all tonal languages!

I haven't been to China (yet), but I love learning new languages. Out of the eight languages I know, I consider Chinese as the most fascinating to learn. I immediately fell in love with the sound of the language and the characters. Here in Chile it was very difficult to find a teacher, as I live in a remote Andes town. I booked an occasional lesson online, but now I try to study at home. Initially, it was extremely boring to write characters: repeating the same character again and again on a piece of paper. So I thought I would do this “later”. I used Anki to be able to read the characters. I thought I did very well… until I discovered Skritter! Recognizing a character is completely different from writing it, as you probably all know.

I read Nick’s blog about the iOS app and immediately applied for a place in the tester group. Being very new to the Chinese language and having hardly any experience with the web version of Skritter, I am very grateful that he included me in the alpha list. I started using Skritter on my iPad and it was not only great to be able to use the app on long bus rides in Chile and on endless flights to Europe, but it was also an excellent means of passing the time in an enjoyable way, when waiting at the dentist’s for example.

However, the most useful part is probably that I’m able to use the app when I’m offline. The internet connection is so erratic here that I cannot imagine Skrittering on my computer all the time. The connection is lost about 5-10 times (or more) per hour. This is no problem when using the app.

I also study online with a writing pad on my computer every now and then, but found out that I can Skritter much faster on my iPad. I prefer using a stylus, but sometimes when I’m Skrittering in bed, I use my finger to write, which also works fine.

That was the useful part. Yet, the VERY best thing about Skritter is that I am able to Skritter in my hammock outside on the veranda. I work a lot on the computer, but when Skrittering on my iPad I don’t really have the feeling that I’m working on a computer, especially not when I can do this in my hammock! The only reason to still use the web version on the computer is the fact that I am sharing the iPad with my partner.

Skritter is by far the most effective way to learn how to write characters, I think. The app is improving all the time. In the latest version I can even add new words and mnemonics without having to use my computer. I already know more than 320 characters and think I couldn’t have reached this level without the iOS app. Nevertheless, I realize I still have a long way to go, er… to Skritter!

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If you haven't already, go check out the Skritter iOS app teaser page and sign up to get an email when we launch the free app. You'll also be entered to win a free iPad to Skritter on.

An afternoon with Benny

For nearly a decade Benny Lewis, or Benny the Irish Polyglot as many of us know of him, has been on the move. He has traveled to over 20 countries, always with the same inspirational goal: to prove that anyone can learn a language. At the beginning of January, this "technomad", armed with Anki, Pleco, ChinesePod and a Kindle full of grammar guides, arrived in Taipei, Taiwan to begin his current mission: reaching a C1 level of oral and listening proficiency in Mandarin Chinese in just three short months.

Benny's Mandarin mission has invaded Taiwan!

Being proficient in Mandarin after three months? This seemed like an almost impossible goal, until I took the time to set up an interview and asking Benny to explain himself and his mission. Benny assured me that this isn't nearly as impossible as it sounds, but, as a rather humble and modest guy, he was also quick to admit that he might not reach his goal. "I'm aiming to fail," he said, while sipping some fresh mango juice. "People think failure is not an option… it actually is," he continued. By getting rid of the perfectionist attitude you begin to realize that aiming for a goal like C1 proficiency will force Benny to push himself as hard as he can for three months, rather than setting a modest goal that he might achieve in two.

Benny hates when people say that his websites "claims" fluency in three months. For him, the idea is about aiming to be fluent in three months. After nearly a decade of language learning and traveling he is well aware that the best way for him to improve is to set a target, set a deadline, and make it public. There is no doubt that Benny succeeds in all three. He certainly thinks there is "a value in impatience," which goes hand in hand with his maxim: "speak from day one!"

"Speaking from day one" means understanding what elements of language you need "right now," says Benny. Understand them or not, that doesn't mean everything goes off without a hitch. He admits that spending time early on recognizing characters from books like Heisig's just wasn't working for him. "The context was worthless to me," he continued to explain. "Learning verbs for example, is low priority in terms of reading, because when I'm reading I need to read menu items, I need to read signs and these are more noun-based." He hasn't given up on characters altogether, making fine use of Pleco's OCR feature and a single flashcard deck devoted to characters, but he is saving a lot of the reading practice for later on in the challenge.

Benny instead is focusing more on pinyin and units of words that he can use right away when interacting with people. And while he got off to a rough start, he is back and focused on the triage system, and acquiring the information he needs to survive. Studying in a coffee shop with an Anki deck wasn't allowing him to reach his goal of "making at least 100 mistakes a day." But these days that shouldn't be a problem. When he isn't hitting the gym with a personal trainer who speaks to him mostly in Chinese, he is getting his butt kicked in other ways. He has two language teachers and other language meetups that are pushing him past his goal of speaking at least three hours of Chinese every single day.

It's clear from talking to Benny he is all about making language as social as possible, so even with his current language teachers, his lessons are far from traditional. As he said, "What I'm focusing on in is to be able to have friends." Rather than talk about grammar patterns or the one-child policy, he is learning how to talk about his work, hobbies, musical interests etc.  In a way Benny is focused on "creating the environment," as he put it, or finding new ways to expand short exchanges into conversations. Using language teachers as facilitators, he's able to dive into the things that he wants to learn.

For Benny, getting started learning Mandarin has been taking a little longer that some of the other languages he's encountered. But "not because its got tones or a different writing system, or that it's not the same as French," he said. Rather, the problem lies in the social learning strategy that has worked so well for many other languages, basically he is finding that the Taiwanese are not nearly as approachable as say a lot of cultures in South America. As a solo traveler you're very likely to get ignored in Taiwan, unless you actively seek out help or advice from others. Randomly getting invited out to a party or even a dinner among friends just doesn't happen as often.

Benny on week one trying to master the basics (photo taken from his website)

However, once Benny started to get the basics down, this social and cultural element has been getting easier and easier. These days he has tons of social events that are keeping him busy, and allowing him to learn the language through communication. For a guy who is making his living as a full-time language hacker, you'd never guess that from him "languages are (just) a means to an end." But I guess it makes sense, since, as he said, "I do not like learning languages, I like speaking languages."

To follow the rest of Benny's adventure in Taiwan and tons of other countries please check out his website Fluent in 3 Months. Since my interview with Benny ran about two hours, I'll be doing a part two to this article focused on a few tips and tricks that Benny talked about, so stay tuned!

Got any comments or questions? Please leave them below.

iOS App in Xi'an

Still working hard on bringing the Skritter iOS app to you! Here's a third story in our iOS app tester experiences series. Last week we had the story of Alex Louis in Gansu, and now we have Giff Ransom in Xi'an.

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My family and I live in Xi'an, China, with our three boys (ages 7, 5, and 3). We've been attending a small language school specifically geared to the needs and learning style of foreigners for about six months now. I've been a fan of Skritter for years, but only recently have I been using it with the commitment of a full-time language student.

A few months ago, I sent Nick a fairly tongue-in-cheek email begging him to be on the alpha list. My wife and I are both language students, I said, but my tablet PC is currently the only Skritterable device in the house. Without having immediate access to Skritter via an iOS device, this was sure to end in marriage conflict over Skritter time. I implored him to have a heart--to think about the potential consequences of this added stress in addition to the insanity of living in China with a family--the breakdown of our family would forever be on his conscience. Nick laughed, and agreed to let me join up, "for the children."

As it turns out, my time testing the iOS app has indeed been "for the children" in some surprising ways. My iPhone is an older one, so the only available option for us was the larger iPad the grandparents had given to the kids for games. This means I don't have neat photos of Skrittering on the bus, or in an obscure noodle joint, but I assume many of these are forthcoming. I've found instead that the biggest difference the app has made is Skrittering the boys to sleep at night.

The younger boys inevitably ask either me or my wife to lay down with them until they fall asleep, and on many nights we're inclined to indulge them. My tablet PC's fan is pretty noisy, and might keep the little monsters awake, but the iPad is wonderfully silent. And so, curled up with one of my sons, I now find myself getting a good half-hour of studying in each night.

The boys like the app. There are times when my oldest puts me to shame--remembering the pronunciation to a character that I just can't seem to get right (he's eager to have his own account). My youngest gets impatient with the pronunciation/definition prompts, constantly asking, "Can we do a drawing one now?" My second son keeps asking me what each of the radicals mean. We've agreed that, after five minutes, no talking is allowed during bedtime Skritter.

It's nice for my own bedtime as well. My wife is a light sleeper, and couldn't stand my tablet PC in bed, but she puts up with the iPad OK. I often struggle to fall asleep myself, so the iOS app lets me make use of that time 'til I finally drop off.

The app itself is quite usable and intuitive. It's gotten to the point where I prefer it to the browser version (even though I have a tablet pc). I'm sure I end up going faster. In the end, the iOS app is a natural extension of what Skritter does so well: making learning Chinese characters fun and even addictive. Now I don't even need a noisy device or an internet connection, which means I find study time that I never knew I had. Having learned my 1000th character before the end of 2011, the goal of being able to finally make heads or tails out of the signs I see every day is no longer a pipe dream. It hasn't exactly saved our marriage, but it is playing a part in helping us bloom where we are planted, blurring the distinction between family time and language time.

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If you haven't already, go check out the Skritter iOS app teaser page and sign up to get an email when we launch the free app. You'll also be entered to win a free iPad to Skritter on.